Darius Acuff Jr. Sits With Ankle Injury as Arkansas Tops Missouri in OT, Enters SEC Tournament as No. 3 Seed
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Arkansas won 88-84 in overtime Saturday at Mizzou Arena, and the Razorbacks did it without darius acuff jr., who missed the game while resting a lingering ankle injuy before postseason play begins.
Freshman guard Meleek Thomas stepped into the lead scoring role in Acuff’s absence, pouring in a career-high 30 points to help No. 20 Arkansas spoil Missouri’s Senior Day. The win also delivered a notable milestone for Arkansas coach John Calipari, who earned the 900th victory of his career.
Meleek Thomas Steps Up With Career-High 30
With Arkansas shorthanded, Thomas supplied the offensive surge the Razorbacks needed. He finished with 30 points on 9-of-22 shooting and went 5 of 6 on perimeter attempts. Thomas also posted 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block and 1 steal.
Missouri forward Mark Mitchell, speaking after the game, singled out Thomas’ performance with a blunt assessment: “He’s really good. ” Mitchell said Arkansas’ freshman had been producing even when Acuff was available, but with Acuff out, Thomas hit tough shots that Missouri wasn’t surprised to see based on his season-long play.
Calipari praised Thomas’ competitive edge and shot-making while also acknowledging the high-risk nature of some of the looks he takes. Calipari said he told Thomas he would have opportunities and that he needed to take advantage of them.
Where Darius Acuff Jr. Stands Going Into Postseason Play
The immediate focus for Arkansas is getting darius acuff jr. healthy for the games that matter most. Acuff averages 22. 2 points and 6. 4 assists per game and sat out Saturday to rest the lingering ankle issue before postseason play begins.
In Thomas’ view, the timing of his own breakout game could be important. He said ending the season with a strong scoring performance was the “spark” he wants heading into the SEC Tournament and NCAA Tournament.
Calipari even joked after seeing the production from Thomas and D. J. Wagner—who scored 10 points—that he might not have to play Acuff again this year. The remark was framed as a joke, but it underscored a key takeaway from Arkansas’ regular-season finale: the Razorbacks can win when Acuff isn’t the one carrying the biggest load.
SEC Tournament Next: Arkansas Earns Double-Bye, Friday Night Quarterfinal
Arkansas enters next week’s SEC Tournament in Nashville, Tennessee as the No. 3 seed and earned a double-bye into the quarterfinals.
The Razorbacks are scheduled to play one of Texas A& M, South Carolina or Oklahoma at approximately 8: 30 p. m. ET Friday at Bridgestone Arena. Arkansas went 3-0 against those teams in the regular season.
Much of that success has come through the freshman pairing of Thomas and Acuff, described as the nation’s best scoring freshman duo entering Saturday. Arkansas’ overtime win at Missouri, however, offered a reminder that even if Acuff is limited or out, the Razorbacks have other options capable of delivering in a hostile environment.
